348 Reviews. [,/tpni 



pies, and Butcher-Birds, and even the unique White-winged 

 Chough {Corcorax) — Kingfishers {AlcedimdcB), Lorikeets, Birds-of- 

 Paradise {Paradiseidce), and the numerous and glorious famiUes of 

 Parrakeets, Pigeons, and Pittas. 



Dr. Butler, in his letter-press, has liberally quoted from Aus- 

 tralian authors and ornithologists, and has as liberally made due 

 acknowledgment of the same, much to the credit and value of 

 his work. 



Every bird-lover, whether field observer or aviculturist, should 

 possess Dr. Butler's pair of well-got-up volumes. Perhaps avi- 

 culturists should be ranked first, because the author himself 

 forcibly writes : — " Bird-life can only be partially studied by the 

 field naturalist, owing to the skulking nature of many birds and 

 their amazing cunning in not only concealing their nests but in 

 enticing the investigator from the neighbourhood of the same. Of 

 such birds the habits can only be studied in aviaries ; and any 

 seeker after self-advertisement who strives to prevent such a 

 means of acquiring knowledge is an offender both against God 

 and man, and deserving of the severest punishment." 



Mrs. Comyns-Lewer, editor of The Feathered World, has been 

 so good as to send, for the library of the R.A.O.U., Dr. Butler's 

 two valuable books ; but those members desiring copies for them- 

 selves, especially at such moderate cost, will do well to apply 

 to the London office, at the address given above. 



[" An Australian Bird Book " (Introduction by F. Tate, M.A., I.S.O., 

 Director of Education, Victoria), by J. A. Leach, M.Sc, First Class 

 Honourman and University Exhibitioner in Geology and Biology, University 

 Scholar in Biology, Organizing Inspector of Nature Study (Education 

 Department), Member of Council of R.A.O.U., Vice-President Field 

 Naturalists' Club of Victoria. Published by arrangement with the Education 

 Department. Whitcombe and Tombs Limited, Christchurch and Melbourne. 

 1911.] 



Connoisseurs never judge by size. Art and excellence may be 

 found in small pictures as well as in pictures great in size ; so in 

 the case of the little volume — " a pocket book for field use " — 

 at present under review. Its small size by no means limits its 

 usefulness, nor are its small illustrations of less value than the 

 classical plates of Gould and others. This little " bird book " is 

 probably the best of its kind extant — a compendium of orni- 

 thology, showing Australian birds in their proper setting and 

 treatment among the birds of the world. 



Mr. Leach follows the system of classification laid down in 

 the late Dr. R. Bowdler Sharpe's " Handlist of Birds," which 

 commences with the lowest forms of avifauna (Emu, &c.), building 

 up to the highest (Bower-Birds, &c.) Australia thus possesses 

 both top species and bottom. The comparative reference of 

 figures and letters with each family and species in Mr. Leach's 



